Ridge Gourd Kootu / Peerkangai Kootu

Peerkangai kootu / Ridge gourd kootu / Peechinga curry is a easy to prepare very tasty curry made with ridge gourd and goes well with rice.

The following ingredients are needed to prepare Ridge gourd Kootu / Peerkangai Kootu.

Ingredients:-

Ridge gourd.         -1
Yellow moong dal.-1/4 cup
Chana dal.             -2 tbsp
Tomato.                 -2
Small onion.          -3
Garlic crushed.       -2
Turmeric powder.   -1/4 tsp
Urad dal.                -1tsp
Mustard seeds.       -1tsp
Cumin seeds.          -1tsp
Dry red chillies.       -2
Curry leaves.           -few
Water.                      -as required
Salt.                         -to taste
Ghee.                       -2 tsp

For grinding Coconut Green Chilly Paste:-

Grated coconut. -1/2 cup
Green chilly.        -3

Instructions:-

1). Wash and cut ridge gourd into small pieces. Finely chop small onions. Chop tomatoes into lengthy slices. Keep aside.

2). In a mixer grinder add grated coconut and green chilies and grind to a smooth paste adding little water. Keep aside the ground coconut green chilly paste.

Method:-

1). In a pressure cooker add yellow moong dal, chana dal, sliced tomatoes, crushed garlic, chopped ridge gourd pieces, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, required salt and 1 cup of water and cook for 2 whistles. Switch off the flame.

2). Once the pressure cooker cools down open the cooker lid. Add the ground coconut green chilly paste into the cooker and mix with the cooked ridge gourd mixture. Allow it to cook for 3 minutes on low flame and switch off the flame.

3). Heat ghee in a pan. Add urad dal into the pan and saute well. Splutter mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Add dry red chillies, curry leaves and asafoetida into the pan and fry in oil for a second. Add finely chopped small onion into the pan and saute well. Switch off the flame.

4). Add the above seasoning into the cooked ridge gourd mixture in the cooker and let it boil for 2 minutes on low flame and switch off the flame.

Ridge Gourd Kootu / Peerkangai Kootu / Peechinga Curry is ready to serve hot with rice.